Quick drain plug

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a hand-actuated drain plug that comprises a tubular member having a proximal head and a distal body adapted to engage a tubular port. The head of the plug has an annular end with at least two surface areas corresponding to an open and closed position. The tubular member defines an axially aligned bore. The plug includes a cap top that comprises a proximal flange coupled to a stem. The flange has a distally oriented surface that is adapted to be placed in orientation with the two surface areas of the annular end corresponding to open and closed positions. The other end of the stem is coupled to a bushing that is sized to fit and slide within the bore of the tubular member. A biasing member positioned between the stem and the tubular member is compressed to bias the plug to a closed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 60/937,507 filed Jun. 27, 2007. The entire disclosure ofU.S. provisional patent application No. 60/937,507 is incorporatedherein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a drain plug designed to behand-actuated. More specifically, in the preferred embodiment, thepresent invention relates to hand-actuated drain plug adapted to replacea traditional drain plug.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Numerous devices have been designed to act as a plug for a drain port orhole. With conventional drain plugs, a threaded bolt is placed into amatching threaded port to stop fluid from flowing through the port. Inorder to allow fluid to flow through the port, the threaded plug isunthreaded. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,386,881 to Eshelman, disclosing a lawnmower engine oil drain extension having a traditional threaded plug. Insome prior art designs, the plug must be completely removed in order toallow the fluid to flow through the port or hole. In other designs, suchas that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,121,526 to Alvarez, the cylindricalplug is externally threaded with a transverse opening such that partialremoval or unthreading of the plug permits liquid to drain through thebore and out the transverse opening. U.S. Pat. No. 5,908,086 to Conklindiscloses a drain plug to replace traditional threaded plugs thatutilized a hinged latch that can be opened and closed. This systemrequires a larger surface area than the threaded plug it replacedbecause of the additional components. Other systems employ a dualcylinder design wherein an inner cylindrical tube that is closed on oneend slides within an outer tube. In one position, the inner tube shapedmember seals against the outer tube member, not permitting thetransmission of fluid through its bore. In a second position, the innertube member protrudes above the outer tube, exposing a transverse holein the inner tube member, allowing the flow of fluid through the hole.See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,749,561 to Worthington, U.S. Pat. No.7,168,683 to Pliml and U.S. Pat. No. 3,642,249 to Cruse. However, thesesystems are deficient because they fail to provide a mechanism to biasthe device in a closed position to avoid an inadvertent opening. Othersystems use plugs capable of expanding and contracting within theconfines of the port in order to secure the plug and remove the plug,respectively. Plugging the port or opening the port using these priordevices is time consuming, usually requires additional tools, can bemessy depending on the type of liquid, and in some applications can bedangerous. U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,434 to Scott discloses a twist cam valvefor fuel tanks that requires the use of a tool to open and close. Thedevice disclosed in the '434 patent to Scott uses a cam surface andfollower pin at the internal terminal end of the device to open andclose the device. In addition, the opening in the cylindrical body ofthe device that allows the flow of fluid is adjacent its outer flangethat it mounted to the exterior of the fuel tank, thus requiring a largearea for installation. The design disclosed in the '434 patent does notsolve the problem of replacing a drain plug with a device that issubstantially similar in size to the preexisting plug. U.S. Pat. No.2,591,514 to Courtot discloses a drain valve that uses a dual cylinderdesign with a biasing spring to keep the inner sliding tube in anoutward, protruding position such that the device is biased to a closedposition. However, it is deficient in that if something inadvertentlybumps up against the device, it may be placed into an open position,allowing the fluid it is designed to retain to flow out. There is a needfor a simple biased drain plug that cannot be inadvertently placed intoan open position that would allow the fluid to flow through the device,causing the vessel it plugs to drain.

In the case of threaded plugs, the threading and unthreading of a boltcan cause fatigue on the bolt threads and on the internal threads of thebolt recipient, leading to damage to either the bolt or its recipient.In many cases, the recipient is impossible or expensive to fix orreplace. There is also a need for a replacement threaded plug that doesnot require installation and removal each time draining is required.

There is a need for a plug or bolt that can be installed and utilized toeasily drain a fluid without the need to remove the plug or bolt andthat can be operated without the use of additional devices, keys ortools.

Others have created devices that attempt to solve the above mentionedproblems. However, those devices are typically larger, making itunusable in some applications, and more complicated, some requiring theuse of additional tools to operate. There is a need for a plug or fluiddrain bolt that occupies approximately the same envelope or volume suchas the drain plug of the present invention that can be hand-actuated todrain liquid from the reservoir to which it is applied.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The following section of the written description describes some of theobjects of the present invention, but the section is not exhaustive ofall of invention's objects.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a fluid drain plugthat is easy to operate and avoids common problems with traditionalplugs.

It is another object of the present invention to provide solutions tothe aforementioned problems, including the loss of plugs required to beremoved for proper drainage of the reservoir to which the plug or boltis applied.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a hand-actuated fluidbolt that can quickly be opened or closed without any additional tools.

It is yet a further object of the present invention, depending on theapplication, to provide a drain plug that reduces the risk of bums bymaking it easy to actuate.

It a further object of the present invention to provide a drain plugthat does not need to be threaded or unthreaded to operate.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drain plug whoseoperation does not cause fatigue and damage to the recipient threads orreceptacle parts.

It is yet a further object of the present invention, to provide ahand-actuated fluid plug that occupies approximately the same volume asthe traditional plug it is designed to replace, making it useable inmany applications not possible for some of the larger devices created inthe past.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the present invention relates to a hand-actuated drainplug for a vessel having a tubular port or drain hole. The drain plugcomprises a tubular member having a proximal head and a distal bodyadapted to fittingly engage the tubular port or hole. The head of theplug has an annular end with at least two surface areas corresponding toan open and closed position. The tubular member defines an axiallyaligned bore having an interior, distally oriented annular shoulderlocated at a proximal end of the tubular member. The drain plug alsoincludes a cap top that comprises a proximal flange coupled to a distalstem oriented substantially perpendicular to the flange. The flange hasa distally oriented surface that is adapted to be placed in orientationwith the two surface areas of the annular end corresponding to open andclosed positions. The stem of the cap top is sized to fit within thebore of the tubular member. The other end of the stem is coupled to abushing that is sized to fit and slide within the bore of the tubularmember. A biasing member sized to fit between the stem and the tubularmember is compressed between the annular shoulder and the bushing. Thehand-actuated drain plug is adapted to be placed in an open positionsuch that the flange is adjacent one of the two surface areas of theannular end and in a closed position such that the flange is adjacentthe second of the two surface areas. The distal end of the tubularmember may include one or more vents adapted to allow fluid to flowthrough them into the axially aligned bore of the drain plug. Thebushing may also include one or more openings adapted to allow fluid toflow through the axially aligned bore of the drain plug. In addition, anO-ring may be included between the distally oriented surface of theflange and the annular end of the head such that a seal is formedbetween them when the drain plug is in the closed position. In analternative embodiment, the surface areas of the annular end of the headmay include a ramped area to guide the cap top from either of its twopositions. The present invention may also be used with a circuit adaptedto be attached to a signaling device. The circuit includes a conductiveportion of the flange and a conductive portion of the head of thetubular member such the conductive portion of the flange and theconductive portion of the head form a closed circuit when the drain plugis in the closed position and an open circuit when the drain plug is inthe open position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularlypointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion ofthe specification. The foregoing, and other objects, features, andadvantages of the present invention are shown and described in thefollowing detailed description of the preferred embodiments which shouldbe viewed in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention in a perspective view;

FIG. 2 illustrates a typical prior art threaded plug or bolt;

FIG. 3 diagrammatically illustrates an embodiment of the hand-actuatedfluid plug used in connection with a reservoir;

FIGS. 4 and 5 provide side cutaway views of one embodiment of thepresent invention as utilized in a reservoir;

FIG. 6 illustrates a top view of one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a side and cutaway view of an embodiment of thepresent invention in an open position;

FIG. 9 illustrates an exploded view of one embodiment of thehand-actuated fluid bolt of the present invention;

FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 illustrates another embodiment of the presentinvention in an open position; and

FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 illustrates the embodiment of FIGS. 10, 11 and 12 ina closed position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention relates to a hand actuated fluid bolt 10 that canbe utilized to allow fluid to pass through a valved passageway throughthe bolt 10. The bolt 10 of the present invention can be manufacturedfor different size openings and with different exterior structures tomatch its intended port or opening. It is important to note that theembodiments of the invention, described below are only examples of someof the uses of the teachings described herein. In general, statementsmade in the specification do not limit any of the various claimedinventions. Moreover, some statements may apply to some inventivefeatures but not to others. Unless otherwise indicated, singularelements may be in the plural and vice versa with no loss of generality.Similar reference numerals and letters represent similar components andsystem features throughout the drawings and the written description.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an exemplary embodiment of the present fluidbolt or plug 10 invention in a perspective view. FIG. 3 illustrates thefluid plug 10 inserted at the bottom of reservoir 12. Reservoir 12 canbe any vessel that contains a liquid. For example, the reservoir 12 maybe an oil crankcase, a holding tank, the hull of a vessel, a P-trapdrain, cooler drains, a transmission case, or any other vessel requiringdrainage of the liquid contained within it through a port or hole.Because of its versatility, the hand-actuated fluid bolt or plug 10 canbe used for many applications. The hand-actuated fluid bolt 10 consistsof parts that may be machined or cast.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate a cutaway view of the drain plug 10 and vessel12 shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 5, the drain plug 10 is illustrated in theopen position with arrows 14 indicating the direction of flow throughthe plug 10. The term bolt as used herein is not meant to limit thepresent invention to a threaded embodiment but is used generically toindicate the general shape of the device. Similarly, the term plug isused generically to indicate that the invention is generally used as aplug that is inserted into a hole, opening or port.

The exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B includes atubular member 20 having a head 40 and a shaft-like body 60. The plug orbolt 10 may be of any size or form that allows fluid to pass through itsinterior 22 when opened and that engages the similarly shaped port orhole in the particular vessel (see fit between the plug and vessel inFIG. 5). When the bolt 10 is in the closed position (see FIG. 1A) itprevents fluids from passing through the center bore 22. The design ofthe present invention does not require an envelope or volume greaterthan the bolt it may be replacing (such as the threaded prior art boltshown in FIG. 2). For spatial reference, the head 40 shall be referredto as being proximal and the shaft-like body 60 as distal. The proximalhead 40 of the drain plug 10 includes a hexagonal, ring shaped end 42having at least two surface areas 44, 46. Because the core 22 of thetubular member 20 is substantially hollow, the end of head 40 is annularor ring-shaped. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, theperiphery of annular end 42 is hexagonal to allow for its installationand removal through the use of a traditional wrench or socket. Ofcourse, other shapes may be utilized. The tubular member 20 defines anaxially aligned bore 22 having an interior, distally oriented annularshoulder 62 located near the proximal end of the tubular member 20 (seeFIG. 8). The purpose of the annular shoulder 62 is to secure a biasingmember 66 illustrated as a spring in FIG. 8.

In the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 6 through 9, the plug10 also comprises a cap top 70 having a proximal 72 flange coupled to adistally oriented stem 74. Stem 74 is oriented substantiallyperpendicular to the flange 72 and is sized to fit within the bore 22 oftubular member 20. The flange 72 has a distally oriented surface 76. Inthe embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the shape and size offlange 72 correspond to the surface area 44 on either side of thecircular space 22 (inclusive of the circular space area 22). Inaddition, the edge of flange 72 includes a distally oriented tab 32, thepurpose of which will become clear in the explanation of the operationof plug 10. Head 40 includes an indentation 34 matching the shape andsize of tab 32, allowing flange 72 to seat within area 44 when the plug10 is in a closed position. Surface 44 includes an O-ring 48 that formsa seal between the distally oriented inner surface 76 of flange 72 andsurface 44 when the plug 10 is in the closed position. Flange 72 of cap70 is used to open the device such that the liquid is allowed to flowthrough the core 22 of plug 10 or used to close the device such that theliquid is unable to flow through it. At the distal end of stem 74 is abushing 80. The bushing 80 is sized to fit within the bore 22 of thetubular member 20 such that it can glide longitudinally along the insideof member 20 and acts as a guide for biasing member 66. In FIG. 9,showing an exploded view of one embodiment of the present invention, thebushing 80 comprises a hub 82 connected to an outer wheel 84 by radiallyprojecting struts 86, 88, thus defining gaps 90, 92. The bushing 80 mayalso be constructed solid, but a perforated bushing permits more areathrough which liquid may flow during use of the plug 10 to drain liquid.In one embodiment the terminal end 78 (FIG. 9) of stem 74 is coupled tothe hub 82 of bushing 82 through a threaded union. Other means to couplethe two may be used such as placing cotter pin through a hole located atthe terminal end 78 of stem 74 once stem 74 is fitted through the centerof hub 82 (not shown), or the terminal end 78 may include a groove overwhich an open spring washer is placed to prevent the stem from exitingfrom the center of hub 82.

The biasing member 66 in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B and6 through 9 is sized to fit between the stem 74 of cap top 70 and theinner walls of tubular member 20. The biasing member 66 in FIGS. 8 and 9is a spring. The biasing member 66 is compressed, with the proximal end64 resting against the distally oriented shoulder 62 of tubular member20 and the distal end 68 against bushing 80. The compression spring orbiasing member 66 can be sized to accommodate different pressurerequirements associated with various applications.

The shaft-like body 60 of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 7and 9 include longitudinally aligned vents 94, 96, 98 along itsperiphery. The vents 94, 96, 98 enable a greater volume of liquid todrain through the plug 10 when in an open position.

Operation of the hand-actuated drain plug 10 of the present invention issimple. The force created by the compressed biasing member 66 causes thecap top 70 and flange 72 to move distally against the surface areas 44,46 of head 40. If the plug 10 is in a closed position, the user grabsthe peripheral edge of flange 72 and pulls in a proximal direction,causing the flange 72, stem 74 and bushing 80 to move longitudinallyrelative to the tubular member 20 once the biasing force of the biasingmember 66 is overcome. After the flange 72 clears the edge of thesurface area 46, the user turns flange 72 such that at least a portionof the area of the flange 72 that sat above the surface area 44 is nowlocated over the proximal area 46. This creates a gap between flange 72and the surface area 44, allowing fluid to flow through the bore 22 andout of head 40. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 9, the distallyoriented tab 32 can be placed to rest on proximal area 46. The height oftab 32 provides additional clearance of space between distally orientedsurface 76 of flange 72 and the open bore 22 of the plug 10, thusproviding less resistance to the liquid draining out through the plug.Once, the liquid has drained through the plug, the flange 72 is twistedor turned again, until the flange 72 is aligned with the distal area 44such that the flange may rest upon such area, closing the plug. In theembodiment that includes the O-ring 48 (see FIGS. 1B and 9), theflexible 0-ring forms a seal, not permitting leakage of liquid throughthe bolt or plug 10. O-ring 48 may be made of various flexible materialsas is known in the art. In some applications, such as with use incombustion engines, a material capable of withstanding high temperatureis preferred. The tab 32 of flange 72 together with the indentation 34also provides a locking feature to prevent the plug 10 from beingslightly opened through an inadvertent bump of the flange 72. Thislocking feature serves as a redundant method of insuring the cap top 70remains closed and does not open inadvertently.

The present invention may also include a notification system to providean electrical signal that can be used together with a visual display,audio response or tactile notification to provide information about thestate of the plug 10, i.e., whether it is in an open or closed state.One embodiment of the notification system incorporates a circuit that iscreated through the head 40 of plug 10. The circuit runs through thehead 40 the device such that when the cap top 70 is open, the circuit isbroken, and when the cap top 70 is closed, the circuit is closed throughthe head 40. FIGS. 1A and 1B diagrammatically illustrate leads 102, 104attached to flange 72 and the side of head 40, respectively. In thisembodiment, the device 10 is constructed with materials that only allowconductivity for certain areas. For example, the underside surface 76 ofcap top 70 may be hardened metal such that an electrical signal sent viaone of the leads 102, 104 is unable to conduct through the surface 76 toone of the respective corresponding surfaces 44, 46. Cap top 70 may beconstructed such that only a portion of it, such as the sides 106 offlange 72, is capable of it conducting an electrical signal. As such,when the plug 10 is in a closed position with the flange atop surface44, the sides 106 of flange 72 make contact with the conductivecorresponding portion of surface 44, thus closing the circuit. However,when flange 72 is an open position, the conductive sides 106 are nottouching any other portion of the head 40, thus creating an opencircuit. Another embodiment, not illustrated in the drawings, haselectrical leads coupled to either side of surface area 44. Whenelectrically conductive flange 72 is placed in the closed position, theunderside 76 of flange 72 electrically couples the two leads, thusclosing the circuit. When the flange 72 is in the open position, the twoleads remain separated, thus creating an open circuit. There are severalembodiments that can be employed to open and close the circuit such thatthe relative state of the plug 10 may be relayed through means otherthan a visual inspection of the device.

FIGS. 10 through 15 illustrate another embodiment of the fluid plug 110of the present invention. FIGS. 10 through 12 show the embodiment in theopen position, and FIGS. 13 through 15 show the plug 110 in the closedposition. The alternative embodiment of the present invention is similarto the previously described embodiment with two main differences. First,the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 15 include a biasingmember 166 that provides tension rather compression. Second, theinteraction between the surfaces 144, 146 of the terminal end of thehead 140 and the distally-oriented surfaces of the cap top 170 isslightly modified in that it includes a ramped surface area along aportion of the annular end of the head 140.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 15 includes a tubular member120 having a head 140 and a shaft-like body 160. The shaft-like body 160is illustrated with external threads 162. When the bolt 110 is in theclosed position (see FIGS. 13, 14 and 15) it prevents fluids frompassing through the center bore 122 and out through the head 140. Aswith the prior embodiment (FIGS. 1A), the design of this embodiment doesnot require an envelope or volume greater than the bolt it may bereplacing (such as the threaded prior art bolt shown in FIG. 2). Thehead 140 of the drain plug 110 is illustrated with a hexagonal, ringshaped end 142 having at least two surface areas 144, 146 (see FIG. 10).A portion the surface area at the terminal end of the head 140 is ramped144. Core 122 of the tubular member 120 is substantially hollow. Thetubular member 120 defines an axially aligned bore 122 having aninterior, distally oriented bar 164 that is illustrated as traversing adiameter of the interior bore 122 of tubular member 120. The purpose ofthe bar 164 is to secure biasing member 166 illustrated as a wire orcable 166 in FIGS. 11, 12 14 and 15.

The cap top 170 illustrated in FIGS. 10 through 15 have a proximalhexagonally-shaped flange 172. Within the cap top 170, and traversingthe interior of flange 172, is a biasing support member 174. The biasingmember 166 is thus stretched between bar 164 and support member 174. Theflange 172 has distally oriented surfaces 176, 186 that correspond tothe surfaces 146, 144 on the terminal end of the head 140. As with theother illustrated embodiment, flange 172 of cap 170 is used to open thedevice 110 such that the liquid is allowed to flow through the core 122of plug 110 or used to close the device such that the liquid is unableto flow through it.

The biasing member 166 in the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 10through 15 is sized to fit between the support member 174 of cap top 170and bar 164. The biasing member 166 is a wire having an elastic quality.The biasing member 166 is stretched, with the proximal end coupled tosupport member 174 and the distal end coupled to bar 164. The biasingmember 166 can be sized to accommodate different pressure requirementsassociated with various applications.

The shaft-like body 160 of the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 10through 15 may also include longitudinally aligned vents (notillustrated) to enable a greater volume of liquid to drain through theplug 110 when in an open position.

The claims appended hereto are meant to cover modifications and changeswithin scope and spirit of the present invention.

1. A hand-actuated drain plug for a vessel having a tubular port, thedrain plug comprising: a tubular member having a proximal head and adistal body adapted to fittingly engage the tubular port, said headhaving an annular end with at least two surface areas, said tubularmember defining an axially aligned bore having an interior, distallyoriented annular shoulder located at a proximal end of said tubularmember; a cap top comprising a proximal flange coupled to a distal stemoriented substantially perpendicular to said flange, said flange havinga distal surface adapted to be placed in orientation with said at leasttwo surface areas of said annular, said distal stem sized to fit withinsaid bore of said tubular member; a bushing coupled to a distal end ofsaid stem, said bushing sized to fit within said bore of said tubularmember; a biasing member sized to fit between said stem and said tubularmember, said biasing member compressed between said annular shoulder andsaid bushing; wherein said hand-actuated drain plug is adapted to beplaced in an open position such that said flange is adjacent one of saidat least two surface areas and in a closed position such that saidflange is adjacent the second of said surface areas.
 2. A hand-actuateddrain plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein said distal body of saidtubular member includes at least one vent adapted to allow fluid to flowthrough said axially aligned bore of the drain plug.
 3. A hand-actuateddrain plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein said bushing defines at leastone opening adapted to allow fluid to flow through said axially alignedbore of the drain plug.
 4. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed inclaim 1 further comprising an O-ring coupled to said annular end of saidhead such that said flange forms a seal between said head and said capmember when said drain plug is in said closed position.
 5. Ahand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least twosurface areas of said annular end of said head are defined by a rampedarea along said annular end.
 6. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed inclaim 1 further comprising a circuit adapted to be attached to asignaling device, said circuit including a conductive portion of saidflange and a conductive portion of said head of said tubular member suchsaid conductive portion of said flange and said conductive portion ofsaid head forming a closed circuit when the drain plug is in said closedposition and an open circuit when the drain plug is in said openposition.
 7. A hand-actuated drain plug for a vessel having a tubularthreaded port, the drain plug comprising: a bolt-like tubular memberhaving a proximal polygonal-shaped head and a distal externally threadedbody adapted to threadingly engage the tubular threaded port, said headhaving at least two distally distinct surface areas along an annularend, said tubular member defining an axially aligned bore having aninterior, distally oriented annular shoulder; a cap member comprising aproximal flange coupled to a distal stem oriented substantiallyperpendicular to said flange, said flange having a surface adapted to beplaced in orientation with said at least two distally distinct surfaceareas along said annular end of said head, said distal stem sized to fitwithin said bore of said tubular member; a bushing coupled to a distalend of said stem, said bushing sized to fit within said bore of saidtubular member; a biasing member sized to fit between said stem and saidtubular member, said biasing member compressed between said annularshoulder and said bushing; wherein said hand-actuated drain plug isadapted to be placed in an open position such that said flange isadjacent the more proximal of said at least two distally distinctsurface areas of said head and in a closed position such that saidflange is adjacent the more distal of said surface areas of said head.8. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 7 wherein said distalexternally threaded body of said bolt-like tubular member includes atleast one vent adapted to allow fluid to flow through said axiallyaligned bore of the drain plug.
 9. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimedin claim 7 wherein said bushing defines at least one opening adapted toallow fluid to flow through said axially aligned bore of the drain plug.10. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 7 further comprisingan O-ring coupled to said annular end of said head such that said flangeforms a seal between said head and said cap member when said drain plugis in said closed position.
 11. A hand-actuated drain plug as claimed inclaim 7 wherein said at least two distally distinct surface areas ofsaid head are defined by a ramped area along said annular end.
 12. Ahand-actuated drain plug as claimed in claim 7 further comprising acircuit adapted to be attached to a signaling device, said circuitincluding a conductive portion of said flange and a conductive portionof said head of said tubular member such said conductive portion of saidflange and said conductive portion of said head forming a closed circuitwhen the drain plug is in said closed position and an open circuit whenthe drain plug is in said open position.